In Canada, the Alberta government has directed C$55.2 million in funding to continue pro-active action against mountain pine beetle infestations in the province. “This funding gives us the resources we need to continue our fight against this threat to our forests,” Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) Minister Ted Morton said. “The time to attack the beetle is now, when we have the greatest potential for success in managing mountain pine beetle populations.”

The allocation for pine beetle work includes C$50 million in emergency funding, plus C$5.2 million in the department’s base budget. The C$55.2 million in total funding for pine beetle will be used for control measures to remove beetle-killed and at-risk trees, and to continue surveys to detect infestations. The budget will also provide funding for control work undertaken by municipalities in affected areas. For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 fiscal years, SRD allocated C$134.3 million to mountain pine beetle actions. The ministry’s goal is to remove as many infested trees as possible before the next beetle flight this July. Each infested tree contains enough beetles to attack five to 10 more trees. Priorities are to contain infestations and minimise the spread of beetles north and south along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes and prevent their spread further eastwards in the boreal forest. At risk are 6 Mha of pine forest in Alberta – about 15% of the province’s total forest – as well as the viability of the province’s forest industry, sustainability of communities, watersheds, crucial wildlife habitat, recreational access and tourism. SRD is also implementing strategies to grow a younger, more resilient forest that will be better able to withstand wildfires and insect attacks.